JUMP
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 6:22 pm
Music pretty much died in the early 90's for me. I drive my kids and grand kids crazy in the car. When not listening to baseball, I have three weapons of choice on the radio dial. The '60's, the '70's, and the '80's. Yep, I have turned into my dad. But, instead of saying, 'turn that damned thing down', to the kids, I tell them to get earphones. Ahh, I love technology.
Now, I know Cubs fans will get this right off.
Especially Cub fans from the Middle 80's. in 1984, our area received WGN. For most in the area, it was no big deal. They showed mostly re-runs and old movies. For me, it was like Doritos were delivered to my door by the Easter Bunny. We had no pro team close to us and the only baseball on tv was the game of the week. I was a baseball fan without baseball.
Now, here is where Cubs fans will get it.
I heard the song 'Jump' today by Van Halen. You're already back to that time frame, right?
Every time I hear that song I go back to 1984 (the name of the Van Halen album) and think about how I turned into a Cubs fan in one day. Probably less than one day. Truth is, they had me at the lead-in song to all their broadcasts, 'Jump'.
I got to hear Harry Carey talk and talk and talk, while I think it was Milo Hamilton, tried to get a few words in edgewise. Harry would talk about Arnie, who in my mind was 'Harvey', Jimmy Stewart's invisible Rabbit.
He would tell Arnie to get 'hat shots' of folks in the crowd and he would chuckle as he would relay something Arnie said from the truck.
I had more fun thinking of Arnie as a made up character of Harry's, that I was actually disappointed when showing him on camera later in the season.
Anyway, I got so enamored about the buildup of spring training for the Cubs and the trade where they absolutely bamboozled the Phils and got Dernier and Matthews that I went down to Vegas and bet $100 on the Cubs to make the Series. At least I think it was $100. Whatever it was, it seemed like a lot of money to me.
I became enthralled. As the Cubs got better and better, and as the season progressed, I started calling in sick to work more and more.
I think my Dad died twice that year and I had to go out of town to attend his funerals.
The Cubs played every home game during the day and somehow I saw most of them. Keith Moreland became 'Where's Waldo in where he'd be in the lineup and on the field.
Jody Davis starting at catcher was always good for Harry to sing, JODEEEEEEEE, JODY Davis!
Ryno was the only star. But man, the guy could play.
They had a lanky dude on first base, Leon Durham. A lot like Ike Davis today in that he could strike out and look like an idiot three times. Then win the game with a home run late in the game
Sutcliffe, Trout (Steve, not Mike), and Lee Smith closing.
I loved that team.
They got into the playoffs against the Padres. Our softball team (DOUGHBOYS) happened to have a softball tourney in Vegas that weekend and I started betting on single games for the Padres in covering my butt on the original bet.
I gained some money back that way, but I was damned disappointed and never rooted for the Padres to win.
I'll never forget that year though.
In hearing 'Jump' today, I thought about that season again and the season coming.
Crazy how one song that has nothing to do with baseball, can make me feel like I can smell the grass and almost see that Wrigley Field sign again.
Now, I know Cubs fans will get this right off.
Especially Cub fans from the Middle 80's. in 1984, our area received WGN. For most in the area, it was no big deal. They showed mostly re-runs and old movies. For me, it was like Doritos were delivered to my door by the Easter Bunny. We had no pro team close to us and the only baseball on tv was the game of the week. I was a baseball fan without baseball.
Now, here is where Cubs fans will get it.
I heard the song 'Jump' today by Van Halen. You're already back to that time frame, right?
Every time I hear that song I go back to 1984 (the name of the Van Halen album) and think about how I turned into a Cubs fan in one day. Probably less than one day. Truth is, they had me at the lead-in song to all their broadcasts, 'Jump'.
I got to hear Harry Carey talk and talk and talk, while I think it was Milo Hamilton, tried to get a few words in edgewise. Harry would talk about Arnie, who in my mind was 'Harvey', Jimmy Stewart's invisible Rabbit.
He would tell Arnie to get 'hat shots' of folks in the crowd and he would chuckle as he would relay something Arnie said from the truck.
I had more fun thinking of Arnie as a made up character of Harry's, that I was actually disappointed when showing him on camera later in the season.
Anyway, I got so enamored about the buildup of spring training for the Cubs and the trade where they absolutely bamboozled the Phils and got Dernier and Matthews that I went down to Vegas and bet $100 on the Cubs to make the Series. At least I think it was $100. Whatever it was, it seemed like a lot of money to me.
I became enthralled. As the Cubs got better and better, and as the season progressed, I started calling in sick to work more and more.
I think my Dad died twice that year and I had to go out of town to attend his funerals.
The Cubs played every home game during the day and somehow I saw most of them. Keith Moreland became 'Where's Waldo in where he'd be in the lineup and on the field.
Jody Davis starting at catcher was always good for Harry to sing, JODEEEEEEEE, JODY Davis!
Ryno was the only star. But man, the guy could play.
They had a lanky dude on first base, Leon Durham. A lot like Ike Davis today in that he could strike out and look like an idiot three times. Then win the game with a home run late in the game
Sutcliffe, Trout (Steve, not Mike), and Lee Smith closing.
I loved that team.
They got into the playoffs against the Padres. Our softball team (DOUGHBOYS) happened to have a softball tourney in Vegas that weekend and I started betting on single games for the Padres in covering my butt on the original bet.
I gained some money back that way, but I was damned disappointed and never rooted for the Padres to win.
I'll never forget that year though.
In hearing 'Jump' today, I thought about that season again and the season coming.
Crazy how one song that has nothing to do with baseball, can make me feel like I can smell the grass and almost see that Wrigley Field sign again.